Tampa Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Fatal DUI Manslaughter While on Probation

Jose Perez receives a 15-year prison sentence for a fatal DUI crash in Apollo Beach that killed a motorcyclist while Perez was on probation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 7:27 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tampa Bay 28

Severe Legal Penalties Following Fatal Apollo Beach Collision

A judicial resolution has been reached in Hillsborough County for a repeat offender involved in a deadly vehicular crash. On Thursday, March 12, 2026, a judge sentenced Jose Perez to a decade and a half of incarceration for DUI manslaughter. The sentencing follows a January jury verdict that found Perez guilty of causing the death of Richard Daviau, a resident of Massachusetts who was visiting the region. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the offense, particularly given the defendant's existing legal status at the time of the tragedy.

Details of the August 2023 Crash

The fatal encounter occurred on the morning of August 4, 2023, on U.S. Highway 41 in Apollo Beach. Investigatory records show that Perez was traveling at approximately 7:50 a.m. when he rear-ended Daviau, who was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The impact was catastrophic, and Daviau was pronounced dead at the scene. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Perez had been consuming alcohol throughout the previous night, with surveillance footage capturing him purchasing alcohol hours before getting behind the wheel.

Violation of Probation and High Blood Alcohol Content

Trial evidence revealed a pattern of reckless behavior leading up to the collision. Toxicology reports indicated that Perez’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.14, which is nearly double Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. Furthermore, judicial records highlighted that Perez was actively serving probation for a separate DUI conviction when the crash occurred. His license was also invalid at the time, compounding the criminal nature of the incident and significantly influencing the severity of the 15-year prison term handed down by the 13th Judicial Circuit.